7-aside formation: 2-3-1

2-3-1 IN-POSSESSION - BY POSITION

Goalkeeper

This formation really encourages the goalkeeper to be part of the build-up, with the options they have when they are in possession of the ball.

With two defenders, the goalkeeper will have options either side of them while the central midfielder provides an alternative passing option straight ahead.

It is also likely that at least one, if not both, wide players will position themselves so that they can receive the ball. 

Therefore, the goalkeeper can receive the ball with confidence, knowing that they should be able to pass it to one of a number of team-mates.

The goalkeeper having a number of passing options available and the confidence to have the ball means they can be used to help keep possession and assist the team in progressing up the pitch.

Getting the goalkeeper on the ball attracts opposition players to close them down, which will provide some of their team-mates with more time and space to receive the ball.  

Defenders

The main focus for the defenders should be about being brave on the ball and keeping hold of it until they are able to identify the right option to pass it to.

By having wide players, a central midfielder and a defensive partner, a defender in possession should have a variety of options to share the ball with.

The priority is to try to play forward. Having three midfielders ahead of them makes it easier for them to do this. 

The key, therefore, is for them to be able to recognise when it is not the correct option to pass the ball forward - and that a better choice is to play to a nearby team-mate, probably their defensive partner or goalkeeper, who can then play forward. 

As the defenders get more confident, they can stay on the ball longer to deliberately attract opponents to them, before passing to a team-mate, who can then look to exploit the space that has been created for them. 

• The central midfielder links the play between different units and will receive the ball more often than any other player
• With defenders to pass to, this formation encourages the goalkeeper to be part of the build-up
• The forward must have the ability to receive the ball under pressure and keep hold of it
• Wide players should be encouraged to stay wide at all times, to provide space

Wide players

These players should be encouraged to stay wide at all times when the team is in possession.

The temptation for them will be to come inside when the ball is on the other side of the field, or even when it is in central areas. 

But, with continuous support from the coach, these players will start to understand that by staying in a wide position, they will provide space for both themselves and their team-mates.

Once they are able to recognise the need to stay wide, they can then start to work on identifying when there is a need for them to come inside.

Having these players in wide areas also provides a good opportunity for them to work on receiving to play forward. 

Because they are positioned close to the edge of the pitch, it is more natural for them to receive with an open body and their back foot which, in turn, encourages them to be positive and direct in their play.

Central midfield player

This is an excellent position for players to develop their understanding of how they can support their team-mates when they are in possession of the ball. 

If we relate this position to the 11-a-side format, they are the midfielder who links the play between different units and will probably receive the ball more often than any other player. 

They will receive the ball from the back line and look to play it into more advanced players and will also be the option for team-mates who want to play it back to when they themselves are unable to play forward.

"The forward in this formation provides the team with an option high up the pitch..."

Therefore, it is really important that players in this role understand where best to position themselves so that they can effectively support their team-mate who has the ball. 

They will need to ensure that there is a clear pathway between them and the ball so that it can reach them without it being blocked or intercepted.

In addition to this, they will need to consider the angle and the distance of the support they are providing. To achieve this, they will need to constantly readjust their position.

Forward

The forward in this formation will always provide the team with an option high up the pitch. 

Because of this, when they do receive the ball, they will often be on their own. Therefore, a key requirement of this role is the ability to receive the ball under pressure, as it is likely they will be closely marked by at least one opponent.

They will then need the ability and strength to keep hold of it, as their opponent will attempt to win the ball from them while they are waiting for support from their team-mates.

As such, the forward will need to develop and master a range of skills, such as shielding, turning, dribbling and travelling with the ball.

They will also need to constantly play with their head up. This is so that they can scan the field and begin to identify where the support is coming from and when it has arrived. 

The requirement of the forward in this particular formation is, therefore, mainly about individual ability on the ball.

7v7 2-3-1 - OUT-OF-POSSESSION SUMMARY

2-3-1 OUT-OF-POSSESSION - BY POSITION

Goalkeeper

As with most formations within 7v7, the goalkeeper’s role doesn’t really change when the team is not in possession of the ball.

However, due to the different positioning of the outfielders in each formation, there are likely to be some slight differences in the challenges the goalkeeper will face.

As this formation is quite strong centrally, with a midfielder positioned in front of two defenders, it makes it quite difficult for the opposition to attack through the middle.

It is therefore likely that they will look for success in wide areas, or in the space that, in 11v11, is found in between a centre-back and a full-back, often referred to as the ’half space’. 

Therefore, a lot of what the goalkeeper will need to deal with may come from a wide position or from an angle. This formation may therefore help the ’keeper with their positioning and getting their angles right.

Defenders

This formation allows defenders to play in a partnership, which is integral to a team being effective when they do not have the ball.

By working alongside a partner at the back, defenders can start to gain an understanding of the importance of having to work with team-mates to protect the goal.

They can develop an understanding of the importance of distances and angles, especially as it is likely that opposition teams will mainly play with just one player up front.

In these instances, the defenders can work on the need for one of them to engage the player with the ball while the other provides cover and support.

Having two defenders also puts an emphasis on them needing to remain in a central position so that they are able to protect the goal. 

If they start to move into the wide areas of the pitch, there is a possibility that they will leave the goal unprotected.

They will therefore need to make decisions in terms of when they need to try to win the ball and when they should hold their position.

As with most things in football, their ability to make the correct decision in these situations is crucial.

• Wide players are likely to find themselves defending in a 1v1
• A lot of what the goalkeeper will face may come from a wide position, so getting angles right is very important
• The forward must remain an outlet for when the ball is won back 
• The central midfielder is key to protecting the goal, as they help screen for the two defenders

Wide players

The most likely situation the wide players will find themselves in when their team does not have the ball is defending in a 1v1.

Therefore, the 2-3-1 provides these players with lots of opportunities to practise their individual defending. 
They can work on key details, such as forcing the opponent into an area or direction that they want them to go – in this instance, away from the goal.

The real challenge that the wide players will face in this formation is the need to come inside to help protect the goal, especially when the ball is on the other side of the pitch. 

Players at this stage of their development will understandably struggle with the concept that they shouldn’t mark a player and, instead, should be supporting their team-mates to protect the goal and help the team become compact.

The wide players, more so than others, will need to recognise and react quickly to a change in possession of the ball – a transition. 

Their action could simply be recovering and getting goal-side of the ball. But the key thing is that they recognise when they need to react to a transition - and this will take some time. 

Central midfield player

This player is key to protecting the goal, as they help screen for the two defenders.

They need to start thinking about their defensive responsibilities, even when their team has the ball.

This can be difficult for a young player to understand and even harder for them to execute. When players see a lot of their team-mates attacking the opposition’s goal they will want to join in and help. 

"Wide players need to recognise and react quickly to a change in possession of the ball..."

However, in this particular formation, we will often want them to hold back a bit - not just because they will be an option for a team-mate to play back to, but also because they will be in a position where they can attempt to win the ball back should their team-mates lose possession.

This position, therefore, provides players with an opportunity to develop their ability to read the game or to predict what might happen and reposition themselves accordingly.

Forward

A lot of the time, we might ask the striker in this formation not to get involved in trying to win the ball back, especially when it is located in their defensive half of the pitch.

Though it is great if they want to help win back possession, it is also important that the team has an outlet should they get the ball. 

Therefore, when playing as a striker in a 2-3-1, players will need to understand when they should help their team-mates defend and when they should hold their position. 

If they do decide to drop and help defend, they then need to recognise when they are no longer needed and should return back to their position further up the field. 

When the ball is in the attacking half, they are more likely to be involved - but they can’t just chase the ball around the field.

In these situations, we can start to introduce some basic principles of pressing. 

Instead of the striker just chasing after the player with the ball, we can provide them with some basic instructions, such as: "Try and make the opponent play backwards". 

Simple information like this will help to provide the players with the first basic steps of defending high up the pitch.